Senate Passes Ayotte-Backed Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Mental Health Care for Veterans

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte today applauded Senate passage of bipartisan legislation she cosponsored to improve mental health care and expand suicide prevention resources for American service members. The Senate voted unanimously to approve the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which was reintroduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). It previously passed the House of Representatives unanimously and now goes to the president to be signed into law.

"This legislation takes important steps to help our transitioning veterans get the help they need to prevent tragic suicides," said Senator Ayotte. "This bipartisan effort will improve mental health programs, focus resources on the most successful initiatives, and expand outreach to our brave veterans who have selflessly defended our country, often at great emotional and psychological cost to themselves and their families."

The bill would require third-party evaluations of existing suicide prevention programs within the Department of Defense and the VA to identify programs needing improvement or elimination. It would also establish a website with information about mental health care services available to veterans. It would also create a pilot loan repayment program for VA psychiatrists, encourage the exchange of resources among the VA and non-profit mental health organizations, create a community outreach pilot program to help veterans transition from active duty, and extend for one year the ability for certain combat veterans to enroll in the Veterans Health Administration.

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